Joel Spolsky

"How Hard Could It Be?" columnist Joel Spolsky is the co-founder and CEO of Fog Creek Software in New York City, and the host of the popular and influential blog Joel on Software. Most recently, he co-founded Stack Overflow, a question-and-answer site for software developers.


Does Slow Growth Equal Slow Death?

I always thought that expanding my business at a steady pace was a smart move. Now I worry that it could potentially kill us  Read story

Joel Spolsky: Setting the Right Priorities

Strong problem-solving skills are important in business. Knowing which problems you absolutely must solve is even more important  Read story

Joel Spolsky: The Day My Industry Died

A decade ago, everybody was starting a Web consulting business, so I did too. Then, one day, the industry died. Does that sound familiar?  Read story

Joel Spolsky: A Visit to Microsoft and Google

Back-to-back trips to Microsoft and Google remind me just how smart these guys are -- and just how much I love running a small company  Read story

Why Circuit City Failed, and Why B&H Thrives

Many companies that have gone bust didn't die because of the recession. They failed for one reason: They treated customers poorly  Read story

Why I Never Let Employees Negotiate a Raise

At Fog Creek Software, every worker at the same level is paid the same salary. And when one gets a raise, they all do  Read story

How Hard Could It Be?: Start-up Static

A new business is like a shortwave radio. You have to fiddle patiently with all the dials until you get the reception you want  Read story

How Hard Could It Be?: Thanks or No Thanks

A young employee came up with an idea that added a million dollars to our bottom line. How do we reward him for the contribution? Do we even have to?  Read story

My Style of Servant Leadership

Don't bother me, because I'm in the middle of my most important task as CEO -- hanging window blinds.  Read story

How Hard Could It Be?: The Unproven Path

I have some ironclad rules for starting a technology venture. I broke a bunch of them when I started my latest technology venture.  Read story

How Hard Could It Be?: Sins of Commissions

Employees will always game incentive plans -- because the geniuses who design them don't anticipate how employees will respond.  Read story

How Hard Could It Be?: How I Learned to Love Middle Managers

I hoped to create a utopian workplace. Instead, I caused an employee revolt.  Read story

How Hard Could It Be?: Good System, Bad System

Starbucks' meticulous policy manual shows employees how to optimize profits. Too bad it undercuts basic customer service.  Read story

How Hard Could it Be?: Glory Days

As Bill Gates retires, our columnist recalls what it was like to work for the world's most successful entrepreneur  Read story

How Hard Could it Be?: Adventures in Office Space

I just wrote a check for $215,481.75. And that was only a deposit.  Read story

Joel Spolsky's Tips on Finding an Office

1. Don't get lazy. Keep looking even while negotiating for that perfect space you found. With a credible alternative, you can drive...  Read story

How Hard Could it Be: A Real Cool Customer

Consumer-oriented start-ups get a lot of buzz. But you can make more money selling stuff to humble cube dwellers.  Read story

Fire and Motion

I’ve read a ton of books on competition and strategy, and none of them are as useful as this one simple concept.  Read story

Fire and Motion

I’ve read a ton of books on competition and strategy, and none of them are as useful as this one simple concept.  Read story

How Hard Could It Be?: Lessons I Learned in the Army

A general's pep talk taught me that a leader can't lose sight of what it means to be a grunt.  Read story

How Hard Could It Be?: Inspired Misfires

Why the most important innovations are often those that appear to be fatally flawed.  Read story

How Hard Could It Be?: The Four Pillars of Organic Growth

Revenue, head count, PR, and quality--if one gets ahead of the others, you're screwed.  Read story

How to Budget a Road Show

Expenses per city  Read story

Joel Spolsky's Travel Survival Guide

Website Bonus #1: Air Travel Tips To avoid the risk of air travel delays, we used five tactics. We waited unt...  Read story

Adventures in Software Demo’ing - Fog Creek Software - Fog Bugz - Buying New Technology

Why I decided to take my product to 34 cities, from L.A. to Amsterdam.  Read story

How Hard Could It Be: Adventures in Software Demo’ing

Why I decided to take my product to 34 cities, from L.A. to Amsterdam.  Read story

How to Budget a Road Show

Expenses per city  Read story

How Hard Could It Be?: Five Easy Ways to Fail

Nothing like a weak team or an unrealistic schedule to start a project off right  Read story

How Hard Could It Be?: Unfocused and Unabashed

A side project threatens to get totally out of control and I think, "How fun!"  Read story

Recruiting the Top 1 Percent

There's a better way to find and hire the very best employees.  Read story

Joel Spolsky’s Favorite Project-Management Books

Mistake 1: Hire the best! Spolsky, Joel: Smart and Gets Things Done: Joel Spolsky's Concise Guide to Finding the Best Technical Tal...  Read story